Monday, 15 December 2003: Episode 6 —
Marco Belgiorno-Zegna AM

The eldest son of Franco and Amina Belgiorno-Nettis, Marco was born in Sydney in 1953, and made a director of his father's company at the age of six. That Marco's surname incorporates his mother's maiden name designates him as the family's eldest son and heir, in keeping with Italian tradition. After completing degrees in business and engineering, Marco joined the family firm  and was sent to manage its Western Australian division. It was here he met his future wife, Angela Varano, daughter of Duke and Duchess Varano Di Camerino, with whom he has two sons, Vito and Ian.

In 1989, Franco and Carlo Salteri stepped back from active management of the company they had founded, and the second generation took over. Marco shared the managing directorship with Carlo Salteri's eldest son until 1996. In 1997, the two families split  with the Belgiorno-Nettis family retaining control of the company's construction business and its name. Marco remained at the head of the company for two years.

However, in 1999, after management disagreements with his father and two younger brothers, Marco moved aside to run a smaller investment division. A year later, Marco left the family company altogether, taking his parents and brothers to court for his share of the business's worth, in a public and acrimonious dispute. Today, Marco runs his own investment company, also taking an active interest in the arts, serving on the board of the Powerhouse Museum and National Portrait Gallery.

Watch Marco's brother, Luca, discuss the relationship he has with Marco and his family: